North Pennies country pub with rooms sold to Valiant Pub Company

The Derwent Arms, a traditional pub, restaurant and hotel in the countryside bordering County Durham and Northumberland, has been sold to Valiant Pub Company.

Located in the village of Edmundbyers, in the Northeast corner of the North Pennines “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”, The Derwent Arms comprises a lounge bar and restaurant, as well as six ensuite letting rooms, a self-catered guest apartment, and a large beer garden.

The business is an award-winning establishment, popular among both locals and tourists visiting the area. The restaurant serves a menu focusing on seasonal and local produce, alongside a selection of local ales, and the venue hosts private events, functions and weddings all year round.

The Derwent Arms has been acquired by Valiant Pub Company, a growing hospitality company launched in 2021 by Hawthorn Leisure co-founders Gerry Carroll and Mark McGinty. 

The pub is their fourth acquisition through Christie and Co in the Northeast, following The Keelman Arms, The Heart of Northumberland and The Railway.

David Cash, regional director and Marslie McGregor, Business Agent at Christie and Co, said: “The Derwent Arms presented a fantastic opportunity for a new owner-operator to continue the successful operation of the business. Benefitting from several income streams and with trade from both locals and tourists, the business was already well-established with excellent reviews and a good reputation. 

“We are proud to have facilitated this sale and we are delighted to have helped Valiant Pub Company strengthen their presence in the Northeast. They have purchased The Keelman Arms in Tyneside, The Heart of Northumberland in Hexham and The Railway in Blyth through Christie and Co and have further acquisitions in the pipeline.”